Russia expanding glide-bomb production, indicating long-term war intent, report finds

Think tank identifies key unsanctioned supplier and calls for new sanctions

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Russia is significantly expanding its production of guided glide bombs, a move that signals Moscow's intention to sustain high-intensity offensive operations in Ukraine for an extended period, according to a report by the Kyiv-based Center for Defense Reforms exclusively shared with the Kyiv Independent. The report reveals that in 2025, a key procurement entity obtained nearly 278,000 servo drives, enough to manufacture 139,000 of the munitions, and identifies a network of companies, most currently unsanctioned, that supply critical components.

Russia is dramatically increasing its production of guided glide bombs, a development that indicates the Kremlin has no plans to scale back its war against Ukraine, a new report by the Kyiv-based Center for Defense Reforms has revealed.

The report, exclusively shared with the Kyiv Independent, warns that Moscow is building the military-industrial capacity to continue waging wars even beyond the current conflict. "Russia is building the military-industrial capacity to continue waging wars even after the war in Ukraine ends. These are not the actions of a country preparing for lasting peace," said Oleksandr Danylyuk, chairman of the Center for Defense Reforms and former chief adviser to Ukraine's defense minister.

The report identifies a centralized procurement entity, TRV-Engineering JSC, which in 2025 obtained nearly 278,000 servo drives, components used to control the flight surfaces of glide bombs, sufficient to produce 139,000 of the munitions. The key Russian supplier of these servo drives, CED Sail LLC, is currently not subject to any Western sanctions, and the report recommends it be made a "priority target" for sanctions designation.

Russia converts older, unguided bombs into precision-guided weapons using UMPK and UMPB glide bomb kits, significantly increasing their range and accuracy. The increased range allows Russian fighter-bomber aircraft to remain within Russian territory, out of reach of Ukrainian air defenses.

The report reveals that the majority of entities and individuals involved in the production of Russia's glide bombs remain unsanctioned. Out of 20 corporate entities involved in the manufacture, only eight face some level of Western sanctions or export restrictions. This "uneven sanctions coverage," the report assesses, allows Russia to "procure necessary components without significant restrictions."

Four Chinese companies are identified as critical to the supply chain. One, Shenzhen Fire Power Control Technology Limited, does not hide the explicitly military application of its products. Only one of the four Chinese companies is subject to U.S. export restrictions; none are sanctioned by the U.K. or the EU.

Ukrainian military intelligence has repeatedly identified a range of foreign components in Russian glide bombs, including parts from the U.S., Japan, China, Switzerland, and Taiwan.

Russia has heavily relied on glide bombs to support its slow advance in eastern Ukraine, targeting fighting positions, fortifications and buildings. Increasingly, the munitions have been used to strike Ukrainian cities within range. Earlier this month, five glide bombs hit the city of Zaporizhzhia, killing 20 people, including three children, and injuring 32 others.

Ukraine has attempted to counter the glide bombs using electronic warfare to disrupt their guidance systems, and by targeting the Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft used to deploy them. Earlier in October, Ukraine struck six Russian Su-34M fighter-bombers in a cruise missile strike on a Russian airfield in Voronezh Oblast, destroying at least four.

"Given the role of guided aerial bombs in destroying defensive positions, isolating battlefields and facilitating ground advances, this provides a basis for sustaining high-intensity offensive operations over an extended period," the report concludes.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The expansion of glide-bomb production indicates Russia is preparing for a prolonged war, not peace negotiations.
Glide bombs are a key enabler of Russian offensives, allowing strikes from safe distances and devastating Ukrainian positions and cities.n- The identification of unsanctioned suppliers, including a critical Chinese company, highlights gaps in Western sanctions that allow the war to continue.

Background

Russia began converting unguided bombs into precision-guided weapons using UMPK and UMPB kits during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The munitions have become a cornerstone of Russian offensive operations, particularly in the east, where they are used to destroy fortified positions and support ground advances. The increased range protects Russian aircraft from Ukrainian air defenses. Ukraine has sought to counter them with electronic warfare and strikes on Russian airfields. The Center for Defense Reforms is a Kyiv-based think tank that monitors Russian military production and supply chains.

What to Watch

Whether Western nations impose sanctions on CED Sail LLC, the unsanctioned servo drive supplier, and on the four Chinese companies identified.n- The impact of sanctions or export controls on Russia's ability to maintain production of 139,000 glide bombs per year.
Ukrainian efforts to disrupt glide bomb deployments, including further strikes on Russian airbases and electronic warfare developments.

Sources

Exclusive: Russia significantly expands glide-bomb production, research shows · Kyiv Independent

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedRussia’s expanded glide-bomb production indicates long-term intent to continue the war.Kyiv Independent: “Russia is significantly expanding its glide-bomb production, indicating that Moscow has no plans to scale back its war against Ukraine”
Partly supportedThe report warns that Moscow is building capacity to continue waging wars after the war in Ukraine ends.Kyiv Independent: ““Russia is building the military-industrial capacity to continue waging wars even after the war in Ukraine ends. These are not the actions of a country preparing for lasting peace,” Oleksandr Danylyuk ... told the Kyiv Independent.”
SupportedDanylyuk said Russia is building capacity to continue waging wars after the war in Ukraine ends and that these are not the actions of a country preparing for lasting peace.Kyiv Independent: ““Russia is building the military-industrial capacity to continue waging wars even after the war in Ukraine ends. These are not the actions of a country preparing for lasting peace,” Oleksandr Danylyuk”
SupportedIn 2025, TRV-Engineering JSC obtained nearly 278,000 servo drives, enough to manufacture 139,000 glide bombs.Kyiv Independent: “in 2025, the centralized procurement entity TRV-Engineering JSC obtained nearly 278,000 servo drives, used to control the flight surfaces of glide bombs — enough to manufacture 139,000 of the deadly munitions.”
SupportedCED Sail LLC is the key Russian supplier of the servo drives, is not subject to Western sanctions, and is suggested as a priority target for sanctions designation.Kyiv Independent: “The report identifies the key Russian supplier of servo drives, CED Sail LLC, which is currently not subject to any Western sanctions, and suggests this entity should be a “priority target” for sanctions designation.”
SupportedThe report identifies a network of Russian companies importing components and raw materials essential to UMPK and UMPB glide-bomb kits.Kyiv Independent: “The report also identifies a network of interconnected Russian companies which are responsible for importing key components and raw materials essential for the production of UMPK and UMPB glide bomb kits.”
SupportedOnly eight of 20 corporate entities involved in glide-bomb manufacture face some level of Western sanctions or export restrictions.Kyiv Independent: “Out of 20 corporate entities involved in the manufacture of Russian glide bombs, only eight are subject to some level of Western sanctions or export restrictions.”
SupportedThe report assesses that uneven sanctions coverage allows Russia to procure components without significant restrictions.Kyiv Independent: “The “uneven sanctions coverage,” the report assesses, allows Russia to continue to “procure necessary components without significant restrictions.””
SupportedOnly one of four Chinese companies is subject to U.S. export restrictions, and none are sanctioned by the U.K. or EU.Kyiv Independent: “Only one of the four Chinese companies is subject to U.S. export restrictions, and none are sanctioned by the U.K. or the EU.”
SupportedFive glide bombs hit Zaporizhzhia earlier this month, killing 20 people, including three children, and injuring 32.Kyiv Independent: “Earlier this month, five Russian glide bombs struck the city of Zaporizhzhia , killing 20 people, including three children, and injuring 32 others.”
SupportedEarlier in October, Ukraine struck six Russian Su-34M fighter-bombers at an airfield in Voronezh Oblast, destroying at least four.Kyiv Independent: “Earlier in October, Ukraine struck six Russian Sukhoi Su-34M fighter-bombers in a “Neptune” cruise missile strike on a Russian airfield in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, destroying at least four and likely heavily damaging two more.”